Peterson verdict updates: Final holdout swayed by hearsay testimony

Continual coverage of Drew Peterson's conviction for murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

7:50 p.m. Final holdout swayed by hearsay testimony

The final holdout juror said he finally decided Drew Peterson was guilty after talking with other jurors this morning.

“After talking with them, in my mind I reached (that he was guilty beyond) reasonable doubt,” Supalo said. “It was only the hearsay that convicted him. If the hearsay law hadn’t been passed, he wouldn’t have been found guilty.”

6:20 p.m. Juror says verdict 'was a tough decision'

One juror said the verdict "was a tough decision. . .We had to do what we had to do, but I think it was just."

Asked about his opinion of Drew Peterson, the juror said: "He's a good father and he had good defense attorneys but. . .I think the decision speaks for itself."

Four TV vans lined the street in front of Peterson's Bolingbrook home, but Peterson's oldest son, Stephen, declined interview requests. He also declined comment when reached by phone.

The refusal left the assembled camera crews to train their lenses on front of the house, tracking the silhouettes of those inside.

Stephen Peterson has raised his four younger step-siblings, his father's two sons with Kathleen Savio and a son and daughter born to Stacy Peterson who were toddlers when she disappeared in 2007.

Stephen Peterson was fired from his job as an Oak Brook police officer after officials there said he obstructed an investigation by not telling investigators his father gave him several guns shortly after Stacy's disappearance.

A few houses away, a neighbor watched the crowd of reporters forming outside the Peterson house, a scene that has become familiar to residents in the Pheasant Chase subdivision.

"I'm sure there's going to be an appeal, and it's going to stay a circus around here for a while," said the man, who declined to give his name.

"Hopefully, the public will leave (Peterson's) children alone."

5:50 p.m. Attorneys linger at courthouse

More than two hours after Drew Peterson was found guilty, prosecutors and defense attorneys lingered among the crowd of reporters and onlookers on the lawn outside the courthouse.

Assistant State's Attorney John Connor and his colleagues Kathy Griffin and Chris Koch gave repeated media interviews, insisting that the case was not about getting Peterson, but getting justice for Kathleen Savio.

"Again, this case has always been about Kathleen Savio," Koch said when asked how it felt to see Peterson transformed from defendant to convict. "And to be able to turn to the family....that's the most important thing in this case, that they were able to know that justice was served."

Prosecutors said they believe the case will be upheld on appeal, but Connor acknowledged it was the most difficult case he has tried.

"This was definitely the most complex case, just due to the sheer number of witnesses and the many legal issues," he said.

The fact that the case turned heavily on hearsay statements and medical testimony didn't help in a society conditioned to expect smoking guns and videotaped confessions.

"In a post 'CSI' world, it's very difficult, especially when you don't have DNA," Connor said, before he was pulled away for a hug from a grateful Candace Aiken, Stacy Peterson's aunt.

5:35 p.m. Juror's father: 'It's been five very long weeks'

Eddie Saldana, the father of juror Eduardo Saldana, said shortly before 5 p.m. that his son had not returned to their Bolingbrook home and was at a restaurant with some fellow jurors.

"I just talked to him. They are eating somewhere, probably decompressing a little bit," he said.

The elder Saldana said his son asked him to relay the message that he did not wish to speak with reporters today.

"He's very tired," he said. "It's been five very long weeks."

Asked if he thought his son was relieved the trial was over, he said, "Actually he's been very quiet for the last five weeks. He's been extremely quiet. When he comes in we've had to turn the news off, but he's a sports guy - football and baseball."

5:25 p.m. Statement on Facebook page of Peterson's son

Following is a statement posted to the Facebook page of Tom Peterson, Drew Peterson’s son:

“To say the least...I'm extremely disappointed. During the past 5 years...I got to see full grown adults act like children, and now they are parading around my front door. Who do I have left? Who do my siblings have left? Oh yeah...the pastor, the lawyer, my aunts, and all of my mom's friends who LISTENED to my mother's pleas and DIDN'T do anything about it. Now she is dead, and you went forth to break the Constitution to blame my dad. I'm sorry, but that doesn't seem very believable to me...but since the rest of the world thinks otherwise, this is your fault, you should have come forward earlier. Now, I have a broken family without a salary, and some woman who sees it important to bully me over the internet because of my Dad. I hope you are all happy.”

4:15 p.m. Verdict 'a very sobering moment'

State's Atty. James Glasgow called the verdict “a very sobering moment” and said it makes a statement about violence against women. He called Peterson “a coward and a bully.”

Glasgow thanked the jury and thanked Savio's family members, who he said “were with us through the entire matter.” He also thanked the Illinois State Police for reconstructing the case.

4:05 p.m. Murder charges in Stacy Peterson case?

State's Atty. James Glasgow says he has not ruled out charging Drew Peterson with the death of Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, who has been missing since 2007. "The longer someone is missing, the easier it is to prove they're dead."

Glasgow also said he will present evidence about Stacy's disappearance at Peterson's sentencing to get the stiffest penalty possible.

Glasgow said he was on the phone praying with the Rev. Neil Schori, Stacy's pastor, shortly before verdict came in.

Schori provided key prosecution testimony during the trial. He testified that Stacy told him Peterson came home late one night wearing all black and carrying a bag of women's clothing that were not hers. Prosecutors say that was around the time Savio was killed.

4 p.m. 'Great deal of solemnity'

Here's the complete statement from jurors after reaching a guilty verdict:

“We have taken the responsibility bestowed on us by the court with a great deal of solemnity and diligence. After much deliberation, we have reached a decision we believe is just.”

3:55 p.m. Defense team booed

Drew Peterson's attorneys were booed as they approached microphones to speak with reporters.

"Thank you," said attorney Joseph Lopez.

Another Peterson attorney, Joel Brodsky, said "a conviction is the first step in a successful appeal."

3:50 p.m. Jurors say they reached 'just'' verdict

Jurors released a statement saying "after much deliberation we have reached a decision we believe is just."

3:45 p.m. Lawyer says verdict will be appealed

An attorney for Drew Peterson said the defense team will appeal the conviction.

Nick Savio, the brother of Kathleen Savio, choked up outside the courthouse, calling the verdict "bittersweet."

"It's better than a White Sox World Series win," Savio said, his face quivering with emotion. "This has been a very long time coming."

He read a brief statement from the Savio family saying Kathleen can "now rest in peace."

"We all love her and will never forget her," Nick Savio said. The family said they plan to visit Kathleen's grave today and tell her the news.

Asked what he would say to Drew Peterson if he could speak to him, Nick Savio said he would tell him to "go have a cigar with your defense team. . .in jail. I don't see you laughing now."

3:10 p.m. Stacy's family holds out hope

Pam Bosco, a spokeswoman for the family of Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, said she hopes Stacy has her day in court too. Stacy Peterson disappeared in 2007.

Bosco said she believes it was Stacy's words that convicted Peterson. Now she hopes Peterson is charged with Stacy's murder.

"This man has to pay for Stacy," she said. "She still has a case."

3:06 p.m. Proud of prosecutors

Former Asst. State's Attorney Nicole Moore, one of the original prosecutors in case, said she was happy with the verdict and proud of the prosecution team.

3 p.m. Peterson tells lawyers, 'Good job.'

Drew Peterson showed no reaction as the verdict was read, but the family of Kathleen Savio hugged and cried. Someone yelled out, "Yes," and raised her hands.

The family thanked State's Atty. James Glasgow as Peterson was shackled.

Peterson looked grim as he told his attorneys, "Good job."

Anna Doman, the sister of Kathleen Savio, said: "I'm so glad its over! We waited years for this."

2:55 p.m. ' It was beautiful'

Outside the courtroom, Kathleen Savio's family and supporters hugged and cried along with witnesses who testified for the state.

"I knew it," said Savio's brother-in-law Mitch Doman. "Now I can go out there and say he's a murdering bastard. You can print that. You can put it in a headline.

"It was like a big burden lifted off our shoulders. We knew he did it, but we couldn't do nothing about it," he told a Tribune reporter.

Mary Parks, the Joliet Junior College classmate of Savio who testified at trial, came out of the courtroom beaming. "I just knew," she said. "I didn't doubt it. I just knew it would be this way. It was beautiful."

2:52 p.m. Savio's family hugs after verdict

Kathleen Savio's family and supporters hugged and cried outside the courtroom after the verdict.

2:50 p.m. Cheers outside courthouse

A crowd of about 75 people awaiting the news outside the courthouse started buzzing as word spread about a guilty verdict.

Someone shouted, "Guilty!" and cheers erupted.

2:47 p.m. Peterson shows no emotion

Drew Peterson showed no emotion when the verdict was announced.

2:45 p.m. Jurors being polled

Judge Edward Burmila is polling the jury on their verdict.

2:44 p.m. Peterson has been found guilty

There was an audible gasp in the courtroom when the guilty verdict was announced.

2:35 p.m. Peterson arrives to hear verdict

Drew Peterson is seated at the defense table. State's Attorney James Glasgow has just arrived at the courthouse. Some members of the defense team have not yet arrived. There are seven sheriff's deputies in the courtroom, more than the usual two. Spectators have filled the gallery and overflow room.

2:30 p.m. The jury has reached a verdict

Sheriff's officials say jurors have reached a verdict, and all sides are gathering in the courtroom.

1 p.m. 'Verdict must be signed by all'

Judge Edward Burmila is drafting this response to jurors: "The word unanimous has its common meaning. It indicates the agreement of all on the matter at hand. Your verdict must be unanimous and signed by all."

12:55 p.m. 'What does unanimous mean?'

The judge said the note from jurors reads, "Just to be clear, judge, what does unanimous mean?"

The judge proposes to respond that, "The word unanimous . . . indicates the agreement of all on the matter at hand."

12:50 p.m. Relatives gather to hear jurors' question

Kathleen Savio's sister, Sue Doman, and other relatives have returned to the courtroom.

The judge is not on the bench, and both the prosecution and defense teams are conferring separately about how to answer the question, which has not been revealed in court yet.

12:30 p.m. Question from jurors

Jurors have a question, and attorneys for both sides are returning to the courtroom.

11:50 a.m. Lunch is served

Lunch has arrived for jurors, who have been deliberating for more than 11 hours total so far.

9:45 a.m. People line up to watch ... nothing

A few die-hard court watchers are still lining up in the middle of the night at the Will County courthouse to get tickets to see the Drew Peterson murder trial — even though very little is happening in the courtroom.

On Wednesday, the first day of deliberations, jurors sent four notes to the judge asking for transcripts of testimony from two hearsay witnesses along with death scene and autopsy photos.

The seven men and five women on the jury deliberated for 81/2 hours before asking a bailiff if they could order dinner. The judge gave jurors the option of ordering dinner and continuing to deliberate or going home for the night. Jurors chose to go home, and the judge reminded them to avoid media coverage of the case before releasing them shortly after 6 p.m.

Peterson, 58, is facing up to 60 years in prison in the 2004 drowning death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. The former Bolingbrook police sergeant also is thought by prosecutors to have killed his missing fourth wife, Stacy, but he has not been charged.

The jury asked to review the testimony of the Rev. Neil Schori, who said Stacy tearfully confided to him during a counseling session that Peterson had coached her for hours to lie to state police about Savio's death.

Jurors also were interested in the testimony of defense witness Harry Smith, who said Stacy called him shortly before she vanished and asked if "the fact that (Drew) killed Kathy could be used against him" in a possible divorce.

Jurors also asked for phone records related to Stacy's alleged statement to Schori. The Naperville pastor testified that Stacy told him she woke late at night to find Peterson missing and tried to reach him by phone.

Eventually she saw him dressed in black emptying a bag of women's clothing into their washing machine along with the clothes he was wearing, Schori testified.

Judge Edward Burmila granted most of the jury's handwritten requests, sending jurors the requested autopsy photos of Savio's injuries and her body as it was found in her Bolingbrook bathtub.

The judge also swore in court reporter supervisor Jennifer Danley and brought jurors back into the courtroom to hear Danley read Schori's and Smith's testimony back to them.

Another court reporter made a transcript of Danley reading the transcripts, which took about 90 minutes with several breaks for objections from attorneys that a passage had been misread.

Some jurors took notes as the testimony was read.

Jurors also asked for and received the handwritten statement Savio gave in 2002 about an incident in which she alleged that Peterson attacked her on her staircase and held a knife to her throat.

They also received a letter Savio wrote the same year to a Will County prosecutor about the incident, in which she alleged that Peterson told her "that I just need to die."

With the waiting game under way, attorneys, members of the news media and a few court watchers milled in the courtroom halls, chatting and discussing how the trial might end.

As Joel Brodsky and other members of the defense team left the courthouse, they were accompanied by an armed, off-duty Chicago police officer who was providing security. Brodsky was vague about whether there have been threats made against him.

Drew Peterson was sentenced in 2013 to 38 years in prison for murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio, who was found dead in 2004. Officials reopened the case after Stacy Peterson, Peterson's fourth wife, disappeared in 2007. Drew Peterson has not been charged in Stacy's disappearance.

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